58 MAN [CHAP. VIII 



Letter 427 the following little experiment. But I may first state, as 

 showing what I want, that it has been stated that if two 

 long feathers in the tail of the male Widow-Bird at the Cape 

 of Good Hope are pulled out, no female will pair with him. 



Now, where two or three common cocks are kept, I 

 want to know, if the tail sickle-feathers and saddle-feathers 

 of one which had succeeded in getting wives were cut and 

 mutilated and his beauty spoiled, whether he would continue 

 to be successful in getting wives. This might be tried with 

 drakes or peacocks, but no one would be willing to spoil 

 for a season his peacocks. I have no strength or opportunity 

 of watching my own poultry, otherwise I would try it. I 

 would very gladly repay all expenses of loss of value of the 

 poultry, etc. But, as I said, I have written on the most 

 improbable chance of your interesting any one to make the 

 trial, or having time and inclination yourself to make it. 

 Another, and perhaps better, mode of making the trial 

 would be to turn down to some hens two or three cocks, 

 one being injured in its plumage. 



I am glad to say that I have begun correcting proofs. 1 

 I hope that you received safely the skulls which you so 

 kindly lent me. 



Letter 428 To W. B. Tegetmeier. 



Down, March 3Oth [1867]. 



I am much obliged for your note, and shall be truly 

 obliged if you will insert any question on the subject. That 

 is a capital remark of yours about the trimmed game cocks, 

 and shall be quoted by me. 2 Nevertheless I am still inclined 

 from many facts strongly to believe that the beauty of the 

 male bird determines the choice of the female with wild 

 birds, however it may be under domestication. Sir R. 

 Heron has described how one pied peacock was extra 

 attentive to the hens This is a subject which I must take 

 up as soon as my present book is done. 



I shall be most particularly obliged to you if you will 



1 The Variation of Animals and Plants. 



2 Descent of Man, Ed. I., Vol. II., p. 117. "Mr. Tegetmeier is 

 convinced that a game cock, though disfigured by being dubbed with 

 his hackles trimmed, would be accepted as readily as a male retaining 

 all his natural ornaments." 



